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Jan 3, 2010
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For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
And raise shouts for the chief of
the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
"Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel."
Sometimes I am surprised by the urgency of scripture. Sing aloud, raise shouts – don’t send a polite greeting card. Cry out from your guts…from your toes, the deep places of your heart and soul. This is how you speak of God. This is how you speak to God.
Demand something of God!
\"Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.\"
This passage from Jeremiah does not begin, \"Dear Sir or Madam\" or \"To whom it may concern.\" No. All propriety is out the window. And there’s not too much concern for theological jargon either. That has it’s place, just not here.
People dance.
People sing.
Jeremiah doesn’t write \"and publish a 15-volume commentary while you are at it.\" No. There is no time. This is urgent praise.
\"You have to tell someone\" says Jeremiah.
This kind of approach to faith is perhaps a little too unreserved for some of us. We value politeness in our society. We value accuracy and correctness of various sorts. We edit. We research. We analyze. We may even politely sit on our hands in order not to offend someone we imagine we might offend.
And then there are Jeremiah’s words
and John’s poetry.
This language…
…especially the Prologue to John’s Gospel
always moves me, shaking me out of my analytical rut. It’s like its speaking to me, asking, begging me to have an opinion about God, to share what’s most on my heart about God.
Where is God in Creation? You have to tell someone.
Where is God in your relationships? You have to tell someone.
Where is God in the governing of nations? You have to tell someone.
Scripture challenges me:
\"Heck, Tripp, do you even know? Can you dance? Can you sing and praise and proclaim? Can you? Dare you?\"
I think I do and I remind God that I come from a culture that is more…measured than others.
But I am just making excuses.
I am avoiding the issue, trying not to rock the boat.
I’m afraid. I’ll admit it.
Jeremiah didn’t make any friends.
And John (the Baptist and the Gospeler)
found themselves in very unpleasant situations.
\"But imagine\" responds God. \"Imagine life without their proclamation. Imagine if Jeremiah had kept it all locked up. Would there have been someone to proclaim God’s promise to the Exiled?\"
\"Imagine if John has not prepared the way for Jesus and instead remained alone in the wilderness. Sometimes I need someone to speak the Truth about Me to the world.\"
I know. But me? Why me?
You? Why you?
Some of you, I know, have not problem speaking about what’s on your heart. I’m always just a little jealous of such people. It’s hard for me…and I know it can also be hard on others. But that’s no excuse. Not really.
I simply find God and God’s promises frightening. When I start to take them seriously…when I start to take God seriously I can begin to see the dominoes fall. I feel that so much must be said and done – proclaimed and shouted. I see a world in need of it. It overwhelms me and I want to turn back and hide in the wilderness or find comfort in exile.
My truth is not big enough.
My peace is not big enough;
my joy,
my hope,
my love.
None of it is enough. So I sit on my hands with my lips shut and hope people will take notice of God and what God is doing without my saying anything.
Then there is that reminder:
John and Jeremiah did not speak their truth. They spoke God’s.
John testifies to Christ and knows the difference between his own truth and God’s. Jeremiah and Israel in their turn proclaim God’s promise and not their own.
The are in Exile.
The people are under the heel of Empire.
Everything is in flux and they are burdened….and they aren’t being served by the quick fix or the self-help gurus.
The world is simply too large for such small truths.
They need someone to not simply speak of truth,
but of God’s Truth.
Not of peace,
but of God’s Peace.
Not of love,
but of God’s Love.
Not of joy or hope,
but of God’s Joy and Hope
The very truth for which the very rocks themselves will sing.
But who will speak? Who will say something?
God says: \"You have to tell someone.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you.\"
Then shall the young women
rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old
shall be merry.
I will comfort them, and give
them gladness for sorrow…
…and my people shall be satisfied
with my bounty,
says the Lord.
Amen. |
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